In 1989 the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics released a document:
Curriculum Standards for the Teaching of Mathematics K-12.
One of the twelve standards that covered all grade levels was: Mathematics as
Reasoning. At each of three sections: K-4, 5-8 and 9-12, there are different
goals stated to be achieved. Ways to achieve these goals are suggested in the
text. This might be what you are looking for as "mathematically thinking
processes."
If you are not familiar with these standards I would suggest that you write
to
NCTM
1906 Association Drive
Reston, VA 22091 USA
and ask them about availability of these standards to you. At present the
NCTM with other professional organizations is in the process of revising
these standards with a completion date of April 2000 anticipated. NCTM has a
website:
http://www.nctm.org ,
an e-mail address:
nctm@nctm.org,
and a FAX number: 703-476-2970.